Environment Performance Criteria as Means for Green Public Procurement

Green Public Procurement (GPP) represents a government policy strategy with the primary aim of steering the market toward sustainable development while addressing the considerable environmental impact attributed to the construction sector. Regardless of the presence of both national and international regulations and guidelines, the effective implementation of GPP continues to pose challenges, resulting in its gradual adoption. This research delves into the potential utilization of environmental performance criteria (EPC) as a means to advance environmental policy objectives through GPP. The study commences with an extensive literature review to delve into the integration of EPC within the award method used in the context of the Economically Most Advantageous Tender (MEAT). Following this, project data were collected to statistically assess the current prevalence of EPC within Dutch municipal and provincial tendering projects. To gain insights into the critical organizational factors crucial for the successful application of environmental performance tools in GPP, expert interviews are conducted. Lastly, a case study evaluates the degree of GPP's effectiveness in real-world projects by scrutinizing the tendering process and its contributions toward achieving environmental policy objectives addressing these factors.